Saudi plays down oil incentive for China on Iran sanctions
When asked of suggestions his country may provide old guarantees to China to win Beijing's support for sanctions against Islamic Republic, Saudi foreign minister says China 'needs no suggestion from Saudi Arabia to do what they out to do'
Saudi Arabia on Monday played down suggestions it could encourage China not to block sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program by giving Beijing oil supply guarantees.
Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said after talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Beijing needed no prodding from Riyadh over how to deal with Iran in the UN Security Council.
The Chinese "carry their responsibility" as one of the major world powers and "they need no suggestion from Saudi Arabia to do what they ought to do," Prince Saud said at a joint news conference with Clinton.
He was questioned about suggestions that Saudi Arabia could provide oil supply guarantees to China to win Beijing's support for sanctions sought by Washington against Iran over its controversial nuclear program.
"Sanctions are a long-term solution (but) ... we see the issue in the shorter term because we are closer to the threat," Prince Saud said. "If we want security for the region, it requires an Iran at peace and happy with themselves," he added.
Clinton said that "increasingly, more and more aspects of Iranian society ... are being controlled not by the clerical leadership, not by the political leadership" but by the Revolutionary Guards.
She warned earlier that Iran was turning into a "military dictatorship" bent on building a nuclear bomb.
Clinton held more than four hours of private talks with King Abdullah at his desert camp 60 miles (35 miles) northeast of Riyadh, aiming to rally support for tough new UN sanctions against Iran.
Ahead of her talks with Prince Saud and the king, aides said she would press Saudi leaders to use their influence with China to secure a change of heart on sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear program.
China appears to be the strongest holdout to sanctions among the five veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Clinton's top assistant for the Middle East, Jeffrey Feltman, told reporters travelling with her that China had an "important trading relationship" with the Saudi oil kingpin.
"We would expect them (the Saudis) ... to use their relationship in ways that can help increase the pressure that Iran feels," said Feltman, the assistant secretary of state for Near East Affairs.
